The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Chouans by Honore de Balzac: powers of his evil influence. But though she had at this moment a full
and distinct view of the gulf into which she was plunging, she
gathered strength from her love to shake off the icy chill of these
presentiments.
"Corentin," she said, with a sort of gayety, "I hope you are going to
let me make my toilet?"
"Marie," he said,--"yes, permit me to call you so,--you don't yet know
me. Listen; a much less sagacious man than I would see your love for
the Marquis de Montauran. I have several times offered you my heart
and hand. You have never thought me worthy of you; and perhaps you are
right. But however much you may feel yourself too high, too beautiful,
 The Chouans |